The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16

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was sitting bolt upright in the middle
of the floor. holding bis head on one
side, and looking about him in a
peculiarly knowing way. He evidently
thought that his new master had been
careful of his interests in providing
such a fine abode for him, and giving
him such handsome things to look at.
As Ben gazed down at him, the bear
rose on his hind feet gravely, walked to
the wall, and deliberately pulled down
a handsome silver-handled whip, which
was Mr.. Kennison's particular pride,
and began to chew at the handle. He
evidently thought it was something
good to eat.
20, see kere!' roared Ben, from his
perch above the granary; "this thing
won't do. You let go that whip or it
will be bad for you.''
He really forgot. for the moment,
that the bear could not understand
him. But Ben declared, when he told
the story. that the bear did understand
him, and laughed, and went on trying
to eat the whip until he had reduced
that article to shapeless mass. Then
he dropped it and looked for something
else to do.
What will he take next?" thought
the now frightened Ben, as he saw the
twinkling eyes of the bear wandering
along the walls of the room.
''Here, don't touch that! Get out!'
shouted Ben, shaking his fists at the
bear. Don't touch thatr'
The bear had his eyes on that silver
plated harness in which Mr. Kennison
especially delighted, and Ben's re-
searches in natural history were likely
to have painful ending. Again the
animal stalked gravely to the wall,
from which he dragged down the har-
ness and at once proceeded to dissect
it.
Here! Let that aloner' shouted
Ben, frantically. He caught up lot
of blocks which lay on the floor and be-
gan to hurl them at the bear. The ami
NAL paid not the slightest attention to
them, but continued to pick the harness
to pieces, until it was as useless as the
whip.
80 dearr' sighed Ben, as he looked
down into the granary; "what did 1
want with bear? Every thing was
going all right, and | was sure that
father would come back and say what
good manager had been, and now
it's just awful! What is he after now?
Wouldn't he like to have me go out and
drive in pig for him? or may be he
could enjoy young Injin; tn ere S
lots of them out here by the Moira.
There he goes again.
The bear had again reached out his
paws and taken into them handsome
gray wolf-robe and was tearing it to
pieces, growing as he did so, and at
the same time plainly enjoying himself.
Ben, meanwhile, sat above the scnttle,
looking down, pale and excited, and
wondering if whips and harness and
robes would satisfy his hunger, OF if he
would break out and eat up the fences.
'.Tll get even with the man that sold
me that bearr' he said. Forty dollars
father paid for that wolf-robe. o, if I
had gun! It's getting dark. and l
haven't had my supper, and I've got to
sit here and watch him or some one
will go into the granary and get bitten.
Something has gotto be done. Ireckon
I'd better 60 and get Indian John to
shoot the big brute
Ben hurried down the ladder and ran
out into the farm-yard.
Time had been passing swiftly. and
it was nearly dark. Just as he got to
the barn-yard gates they swung open
and Farmer Kennison rode in.
The horse had scarcely reached the
barn-door when he suddenly gave a
wild snort of fright and made such
sudden spring that he threw Mr.. Ken
nison out, and before he could be stopped
he was running rapidly across the
yard. AS Mr.. Kennison got up, greatly
puzzled by the horses fright, he heard
savage roar issue from the granary.
He sprang up and ran to the door and
was about to enter, when Ben caught
his arm.
Father" he said, don't go there"
''What is the matter? what is in
there?"
"a bear" replied Ben. desperately.
IF you'll 60 up the ladder and look
down into the granary, 1 guess you can
see him. Hecan't do any more damage;
he's already done all he can."
Mr.. Kennison ran up the ladder and
looked down into the granary, and as
he did so furious growl came up from
below. The keen eyes of the old gen.
tleman wandered over the ruin which
the bear had wrought. Then he turned
to Ben.
''Go and get my gun"
Ben never went to the house and back
more quickly than he did that time. He
brought the big musket which had seen
service in battle.
Mr.. Kennison looked down at the
bear, which had been running around
the granary, and was apparently anx-
ions to get at the stalwart man above.
All at once he stopped, reared upon
his launches and looked up, and as he
did so he received a shot from the mus
ket and rolled over on the granary
floor.
Mr.. Kennison dropped the musket
took took Ben by the collar.
"And now," said he, chow came that
bear here?n